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As established by the Bishops, the Clergy, and Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in Convention, on the twelfth Day of September, in the Year of our Lord 1801

Art. 1. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity. understand those Canonical Books of THERE is but one living and true the Old and New Testament, of whose God, everlasting, without body, authority was never any doub in the carts, or passions; of infinite power, Church. wisdom, and goodness; the Maker and 1 Of the Names and Number of the Preserver of all things both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead, there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Art. 11. Of the Word, or Son of God, which was made very Man.

Canonical Books.

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numeri, Deuteronomiuin, Joshue, Judges, Ruth, The First Book of Samuel, The Second Book of Samuel, The First Book of Kings, the Second Book of Kings. The First Book of Chronicles, The Second The Son, which is the Word of the Book of Chronicles, The First Book of Father, begotten from everlasting of the Esdras, The Second Book of Esdras, Father, the very and eternal God, of The Book of Hester, The Book of Job, one substance with the Father. took The Psalms, The Proverbs. Ecclesiastes Man's nature in the womb of the blessed or Preacher, Cantica or Songs of SoloVirgin, of her substance: so that two mon, Four Prophets the greater, Twelve whole and perfect Natures, that is to Prophets the less. say, the Godhead and Manhood, were And the other Books (as Hierome saith) joined together in one Person, never to the Church doth read for example of be divided. whereof is one Christ, very ife and instruction of manners; but yet God, and very Man; who truly suffered, doth it not apply them to establish any was crucified, dead, and buried, to re-doctrine; such are these following: concil his Father to us, and to be a The Third Book of Esdras, The Fourth sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but Book of Esdras, The Book of Tobias, also for actua. vins of men. The Book of Judith, The rest of the Art. III. Of the going down of Christ Book of Hester, The Book of Wisdom, Jesus the Son of Sirach, Baruch the Prophet, The Song of the three Chil. dren. The Story of Susanna, Of Bel and the Dragon, The Prayer of Manasses, The First Book of Maccabees, The Second Book of Maccabees.

into Hill.

As Christ died for us, and was buried; so also is it to be believed, that he went down into hell.

Art. IV. Of the Resurrection of Christ. Christ did truly rise again from death, and took again his body, with flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of Man's nature, wherewith he ascended into leaven, and there sitteth, until he return to judge all men at the last day.

All the Books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive and account them Canonical.

Art. VII. Of the Old Testament. The Old Testament is not contrary to the New: for both in the Old and New Art. V. Of the Holy Ghost. Testament everlasting life is offered to The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the mankind by Christ, who is the only MeFather and the Son, is of one Substance, diator between God and Man, being Majesty, and Glory, with the Fate both God and Man. Wherefore they and the Son, very and eternal God. are not to be heard, which feign, that Art. VI. Of the Sufficiency of the Holy the Old Fathers did look only for transiScriptures for Salvation. tory Promises. Although the Law given Holy Scripture containeth all things from God by Moses, as touching Cere necessary to salvation: so that whatso-monies and Rites, do not bind Christian ever is not read therein, nor may be men, nor the Civil Precepts thereof proved thereby, is not to be required of ought of necessity to he received in any any man, that it should be believed as Commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, an Article of the Faith, or be thought no Christian man whatsoever is free requisite or necessary to Salvation. In from the obedience of the Command the name of the Holy Scripture we dolments which are called moral.

Art. XIII. Of Works before Justification.

Art. VIII. Of the Creeds. The Nicene Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostle's Creed, Works done before the grace of ought thoroughly to be received and be-Christ, and the inspiration of his Spirit, lieved: for they may be proved by most are not pleasant to God, forasmuch as certain warrants of holy Scripture. they spring not of faith in Jesus Christ, Art. IX. Of Original or Birth-Sin. neither do they make men meet to re Original Sin standeth not in the fol-ceive grace, or (as the School-Authors lowing of Adam (as the Pelagians do say) deserve grace of congruity: yea vainly talk;) but it is the fault and cor-rather, for that they are not done as ruption of the nature of every man, that God hath willed and commanded them naturally is engendered of the offspring to be done, we doubt not but they have of Adam, whereby man is very far gone the nature of sin.

from original righteousness, and is of Art. XIV. Of Works of Supererogation. his own nature inclined to evil, so that Voluntary Works, besides over and the flesh lusteth always contrary to the above God's Commandments, which Spirit; and therefore in every person they call Works of Supererogation, canborn into this world, it desei veth God's not be taught without arrogancy and wrath and damnation. And this infec-impiety. For by them men do declare, tion of nature doth remain, vea, in them That they do not only render unto God that are regenerated; whereby the lust as much as they are bound to do, but of the flesh, called in Greek, góvnu that they do more for his sake than of zgxes, which some do expound the bounden duty is required: Whereas Wisdom, some Sensuality, soine the Af-Christ saith plainly, When ye have done fection, some the Desire of the Flesh, all that are commanded to you, say, We is not subject to the Law of God. And are unprofitable servants.

although there is no condemnation for Art. XV. Of Christ alone without Sin. them that believe and are baptized; Christ in the truth our nature, was yet the Apostle doth confess, that con-made like unto us in ad tags, sin only cupiscence and lust hath of itself the exceut, from which he was c'early void, nature of sin. both in his flesh, and in his spuit. He Art. X. Of Free-Will. came to be a Lamb without spot, who The condition of man, after the fall of by sacrifice of himself once made, should Adam, is such, that he cannot turn and take away the sins of the world; and prepare himself, by his own nataral sin (as St. John saith) was not in him. strength and good works, to faith, and But all we the rest (although haptized calling upon God: wherefore we have and born again in Christ) ve offend in no power to do good works pleasant many things; and if we say we have no and acceptable to God, without the grace sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth of God by Christ preventing us, that we is not in us. may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will.

Art. XVI. Of Sin after Baptism. Not every deadly sin, willingly comArt. XI. Of the Justifi ation of Man. mitted after Baptism, is sin against the We are accounted righteous before Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. WhereGod, only for the Merit of our Lord fore the grant of repentance is not to be and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith; and denied to such as fall into sin after Bapnot for our own Works or Deservings. tism. After we have received the Holy Wherefore, that we are justified by Ghost, we may depart from grace givFaith only, is a most wholesome doc-en, and fall into sin, ani by the grace trine, and very full of comfort, as more of God (we may) arise again, and largely is expressed in the lomily of amend our lives. And therefore they Justification.

are to be condemned, which say, they
can no nore sin as long as they live
here, or deny the place of forgiveness
to such as truly repent.

Art. XVII. Of Predestination and
Election.
Predestination to lite is the everlast-

Art. XII. Of Good Works. Albeit that good Works, which are the Fruits of Faith, and follow after Justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God's Judgment; yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and do springing purpose of God, whereby (before out necessarily of a true and lively Faith; the foundations of the world were laid) insomuch that by them a lively Faith he hath constantly decreed, by his counmay be as evidently know, as a tree sel, secret to us, to deliver from curse discerned by the truit. land damnation, those whom he hath

chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to As the Church of Hierusalem, Alexan, bring them by Christ to everlasting dria, and Antioch, have erred; so alsa salvation, as vessels made to honour. the Church of Rome hath erred, not onWherefore they, whica he endued with ly in their living and manner of Cere so excellent a benefit of God, he called monies, but also in matters of Faith. according to God's purpose by his Spirit Art. XX. Of the Authority of the Church. working in due season: they through The Church hath power to decree grace obey the calling: they be justified Kites or Ceremonies, and authority in freely: they be made Sons of God by Controversies of Faith; And yet it is adoption: they be made like the image not lawful for the Church to ordain any of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ:thing that is contrary to God's Word they walk religiously in good works; written, neither may it so expound one and at length by God's mercy they at-place of Scripture, that it be repugnant tain to everlasting felicity. to another. Wherefore, although the

As the godly consideration of Predes-Church be a Witness and a Keeper of tination, and our Election in Christ, is Holy Writ, yet as it ought not to decree full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable any thing against the same, so besides comfort to godly persons, and such as the same ought not to enforce any thing feel in themselves the working of the to be believed for necessity of salvation. Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of Art. XXI. Of the Authority of General the flesh and their earthly members, and Councils.* drawing up their mind to high and bea- Art. XXII. Of Purgatory.

venly things, as well because it doth The Romish doctrine concerning Pur greatly establish and confirm their faith gatory, Pardons, Worshipping, and of eternal salvation, to be enjoyed Adoration, as well of Images, as of Rethrough Christ, as because it doth fer-liques, and also invocation of Saints, vently kindle their love towards God.is a fond thing vainly invented, and so, for curious and carnal persons, lack-grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, ing the Spirit of Christ, to have conti-but rather repugnant to the Word of God. nually before their eyes the Sentence of Art. XXIII. Of Ministering in the Con God's predestination, is a most dangergrigation.

ous downfall, whereby the Devil doth It is not lawful for any man to take thrust them either to desperation, or upon him the office of public preaching, into wretchlessness of most unclean liv-or Ministering the Sacraments in the ing, no less perilous than desperation. Congregation, before he be lawfully Furthermore, we must receive God's called, and sent to execute the same. promises in such wise as they be gene-And those we ought to judge lawfully raily set forth to us in holy Scripture: called and sent, which be chosen and And in our doings, that will of God is called to this Work by men who have to be followed, which we have express-public Authority given unto them in ly declared unto us in the Word of God.the Congregation, to call and send Art. XVIII. Of obtaining Eternal Sal-Ministers into the Lord's Vineyard. vation only by the name of Christ. Art. XXIV. Of speaking in the Congre They also are to be had accursed, that gation in suck a Tongue as the people presume to say, that every man shall be understandeth. saved by the Law or Sect which he pro- It is a thing plainly repugnant to the fesseth, so that he ne diligent to frame Word of God, and the Custom of the his life according to that law, and the Primitive Church, to have public prayer light of Nature. For holy Scripture in the Church, or to Minister the Sacra doth set out unto us only the Name of ments in a Tongue not understanded of Jesus Christ, whereby mien must be saved, the people.

Art. XIX. Of the Church.

Art. XXV. Of the Sacraments.

The visibie Church of Christ is a Con- Sacraments ordained of Christ be not gregation of faithful men, in the which only badges or tokens of Christian men's the pure Word of God is preached, and profession; but rather they be certain the Sacraments be duly ministered ac-fure witnesses, and effectual signs of cording to Christ's Ordinance, in all grace, and God's good will towards us, those things that of necessity are requi- by the which he doth work invisibny in site to the same. us, and doth not only quicken, but also

The 21st of the former articles is omitted, because it is partly of a local and civil nature, and is provided for, as to the remaining parts of it, in other articles

Arengthen and confirm our faith in him. bly signed and sealed: faith's confirined There are two Sacraments ordained and grace creased by virtue of prayer of Christ our Lord n; the Gospel, that is o unto God. The Baptism of young chil. say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord. dren is in any wise to be retained us the Those five commonly called Sacra-Church as most agreeable with the mstiments, that is to say, Confirmation, Pe-tution of Christ.

nance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreme Ari. XXVII. Of the Lord's Supper. Uncuon, are not to be counted for Sa- The Supper of the Lord is not only a craments of the Gospel, being such as sign of the Love that Christians ough! have grown, partly of the corrupt fol-to have among themselves one to ano lowing of the Apostles, partly are states iner; but rather it is a Sacrament of our of life allowed by the Scriptures; but Redemption by Christ's death. insoyet bave not like nature of sacraments much that to sue.. as rightly, worthily with Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and with faith receive the same, the for that they have not any visible Sign Bread which we break is a partaking of or ceremony ordained of God. the Body of Christ; and likewise the The Sacraments were not ordained of Cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Christ to oe gazed upon, or to be carri-Blood of Christ.

ed about, but that we should duly use Transubstantiation (or the change of them. And in such only as worthily re-the Substance of Bread and wine) in the ceive the same, they have a wholesome Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved effect or operation: but they that re-by Holy Writ but it is repugnani to the eive the unworthily, purchase to plain words of Scripture, overthroweth themselves damnation, as St. Paul saith. the nature of a Sacrament, and hath Art. XXVI. Of the unworthiness of the Ministers, which hinders not the effect of

given occasion to many superstitious.

The Body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten in the Supper, only after an the Sacraments. Although in the visible Church the heavenly and spiritual manner. And the evil be ever mingled with the good, and nean whereby the Body of Christ is resometime the evil eve chief authority ceived and eaten in the Supper, is Faith. The Sacrament of the Lord's Suppe: in the ministration of the Word and Sacraments: yet, forasmuch as they do was not by Christ's Ordinance reserved. not the same in their own name, but injcarried about, lifted up, or worshipped. Christ's, and do minister by his Com-Art. XXIX. Of the Wicked, which eat not mission and Authority, we may use their of the body of Christ in the Use of the Ministry, both in hearing the Word of Lord's Supper. God, and in receiving the Sacraments. The wicked, and such as be void of a Neither is the effect of Christ's Ordi-lively faith, although they do carnally nance taken away by their wickedness, and visibly press with their teeth (as St. nor the grace of God's gifts diminished Augustine saith) the Sacrament of the from such, as by faith, and rightly, do Body and Blood of Christ; yet in no receive the Sacraments ministered unto wise are they partakers of Christ; but them, which be effectual, because of rather to their condemnation do eat and Christ's institution and promise, al-drink the Sign of Sacrament of so great though they be ministered by evil men. Ja thing.

Nevertheless, it appertaineth to the Art. XXX. Of both Kinds. Discipline of the Church, that inqui- The Cup of the Lord is not to be dery be made of evil ministers, and nied to the Lay-People: for both the that they be accused by those that have parts of the Lord's Sacrament by knowledge of their offences: and finally Christ's Ordinance and Commandment, being found guilty, by just judgment, ought to be ministered to all Christian be deposed. men alike.

Art. XXVII. Of Baptism. Art. XXXI. Of the one Oblation of Baptism is not only a sign of profes- Christ finished upon the cross. sion. and mark of difference, whereby The offering of Christ once made, is Christian men are discerned from others that perfect redemption, propitiation, that be not christened: but it is also a and satisfaction for all the sins of the sign of Regeneration, or new Birth, whole work, both original and actual; whereby, as by an instrument, they that and there is none other satisfaction for receive Baptism rightly are grafted into sin, but that alone. Where.ore the Sathe Church: the promises of the forgive-crifice of Masses, in which it was comBess of sin, and of our ade piion to be the monly said, that the Priest did offer cons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visi-Christ for the quick and the dead, im

Lave remission of pain or guilt, were Elasphemous fables, and dangerous deceits.

Art. XXXII. Of the Marriage of Priests.

Bishops, priests, and deacons, are not commanded by God's Law, either to Vow the estate of single life, or to abstain from Marriage: therefore it is lawful for them, as for all other Christian men, to marry at their own discretion, as they shall judge the same to serve better to godliness.

Art. XXXI. Of excommunicate Per-
sons, now they are to be avoided.
That person which by open denuncia-
tion of the Church, isightly cut off from
the Unity of the Church, and excommu-
nicate, ought to be taken of the whole
multitude of the faithful, as an Hea-
then and Publican, untii he be openly
reconciled by penance, and received in-
to the Church by a Judge that hath au-
thority thereunto.

Art. XXXIV. Of the Traditions of the
Church.

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12. Of the Nativity of Christ.
13. Of the Passion of Christ.
14. Of the Resurrection of Christ.
15. Of the worthy receiving of the Sa
crament of the Body and Blood of
Christ.

15. Of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost.
17. For the Rogation-days.
19. Of the State of Matrimony.
19. Of Repentance.
20. Against Idleness.
21. Against Rebellion.

It is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in ali places one, or utterly like; for at all times they have Church, so far as it declares the books [This Article is received in this been divers, and may be changed ac-of Homilies to be an explication of cording to the diversity of countries, Christian doctrine, and instructive in times, and men's manners, so that no-piety and morals. But all references to thing be ordained against God's word. the constitution and laws of England Whosoever, through his private judg-are considered as inapplicable to the cir ment, willingly and purposely doth cumstances of this Church, which also openly break the Traditions and Cere- suspends the order for the reading of monies of the Church, which be not re- said Homilies in Churches until a repugnant to the word of God, and be or-vision of them may be conveniently dained and approved by common autho-made, for the clearing of them, as well rity, ought to be rebu.ed openly (that from obsolete words and phrases, as other may fear to do the like) as he that from local references.} offendeth against the common Order of the Church, and hurteth the Authority of Art. XXXVI. Of Consecration of Bithe Magistrate, and woundeth the conshops and Ministers. The Book of Consecration of Bishops, sciences of the weak Brethren. Every particular or National Charch and ordering of Priests and Deacons, hath Authority to ordain, change, and as set forth by the General Convention abolish Ceremonies or Rites of the of this Church in 1792, doth contain all Church, ordained only by man's autho-things necessary to such consecration rity, so that all things be done to edifying that, of itself, is superstitious and ungodand ordering; neither hath it any thing The second Book of Homilies, the seve-ly: and, therefore, whosoever are conral titles whereof we have joined, under secrated or ordered according to said this Article, doth contain a godly and form, we decree all such to be rightly, wholesome Doctrine, and necessary for orderly, and lawfully consecrated and these Times, as doth the former Bookordered.

Art. XXXV. Of Homilies.

of Homilies, which were set forth in the Art. XXXVII. Of the Power of the Civil time of Edward the Sixth; and thereMagistrates.

fore we judge them to be read in Church- The power of the Civil Magistrate ex es by the Ministers diligently and dis-tendeth to all men, as well Clergy as Laitinctly, that they may be understanded of the people.

Of the Names of the Homilies. 1. Of the right Use of the Church.

ty, in all things temporal; but hath no authority in things purely spiritual. And we hoid it to be the duty of all men who are professors of the Gospel, to pay

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